New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-27
MURDER OR SUICIDE?
TESTIMONY IN THE BENHAYON CASE.
THE MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY THAT ExclTrs SAN
FRAECIsCo-sCESEs Al THE INQUEST.

THE MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY THAT ExcITrs SAN
FRAScIsco-scENEs At THE INQUEST.
! iDY TELEGRAPH To rHs rRrBUSEl
sAH FRANcIsco, Oct. 2G-At the inquest into the Ben
yon suicide last night the Coroner took the stand and
read letter OF notification Of the intending suicide 1t
proved the sensation OF the evening being plain decla
ration that he had murdered his sister AMI that DR.
Bowers was entirely OF the plot which had been
concoced to get rid OF the second sensation
came when the Coroner read second letter. entitled
Confession" 1t said In substance that after his
sisters marriage Benhayon proposed that DR. Bowers
should first be Induced TO inure his life and be poisoned
When poison procured Mrs. Bowerss heart failed
her. and then Benhayon felt Irresistible desire to try
1t on his sister and did with fatal effect The poison
procured from friend who said that It's presence
could not be detected and that the friend himself COM
| United suicide during the progress OF the trial.
The first witness called at this evenings Inquest wM
Mrs. Sarah Benhayon mother OF the suicide Her story
was briefly that she last her Saturday noon,
when his behavior usual. lie left her to 70 to
dentists Office where he employed but failing to re-
turn at night, che uneasy and visited HIS bedroom
several times When shown letter addressed 20 the
coroner notifying to that officer that he Benhayon was
about to commit suicide the mother said that the hand
writing did not look like his who the addresses on this
and two other letters to The Chronicle and Dr. Bow
she declared emphatlcally not writto by him.
The letter entitled "tho confession she also said
instantly, not in Henry's handwrt
Ing. lie had 4 peculiar hand, she added
concerning which there could be no mistake. she
said In conclusion that her had spoken 10 ncr
of suicide She always understood the life insurance
policies made out In Bowers favor and had never
been transferred.
Mrs Maggie Hgson landady OF No. % Geary-st
where the dead body found, rctOl the story OF the
peculiar engage OF Room No u. saying that on
October 10 young had callcl and insisted ON rent
ing thlC particular room.
John ncming being called shc instantly said lie was
the man
ON october / : another young called and paid -
deposit and said hc tho friend
for whom the room had been engaged. When asked II
tins the dead Mrs III gson said II most assuredly
WAS not. Nothing more was seen or other nau unil
last Monday when she found the hldy IN the rnon
ami was hundcrsruck TO Md II was neither Of two inca
before seen.
There was "a scene when tho landlaly recognized
Spectator In court the who hired ani paid for The
room ia which the supposed suicide TOOK place The
moment she caught slght or him she gave cry ami
tainted Ia hcr chair Mh"n,reyived she testified u
the ~ ans identity. although lie denied iia'y that he had
engaged the His T. \. Lowcn-teln ana ho
is drygoOls salesman. who - well spoken of hy hl1
friends. lie told a confused story but admitted that he
WAS AT the hniady'- house few nights before the s-
eide. After tie examination both he and Dem!ns' mo
man who originally hrct thf room were put hudcr pD-
lco Surveillance. Tie theory that Bcnhayon was uur-
dered and confession forged s gaining the public